Episode 44 - Finding Your Voice After Emotional and Financial Abuse with Amanda J. Scott
By Jessica Garrison
Episode trigger warning: abuse
Through our connections with Podmatch, we have been able to meet so many extraordinary women, and Amanda J. Scott is another one we can add to our growing list. She is a passionate, kind, and empathetic person to herself as well as others.
Amanda describes her why and values as a compass that guides her, explaining how she ended up in the work that she does. During her 17 years of marriage, she experienced emotional and financial abuse, and a common aspect of abuse is isolation. Amanda didn’t want to keep the journey to herself, so it’s important for her to let other women know that they are not alone. For a long time Amanda says that she didn’t have a voice, and she doesn’t want that to ever happen again, to her or to anyone else. The power of women supporting women, especially in living unapologetically, is a discovery that changed her life. Amanda shares how critical it is for women to have at least one female friend who knows and understands them. Your friends are also there to remind you of your worth and are a great support for your path forward.
Women’s stories matter, though there isn’t always a platform for women to share their stories in a safe way. It took time for Amanda to not only come back to herself, but to also put her experiences into words. She wrote a book entitled Finding My Way Back To Me, detailing the days that led up to her courageous decision to leave her husband and how she reclaimed her life. Embracing her layers have made her feel strong and empowered, contributing to her resilience and the reason why she could leave her abusive relationship.
Amanda also says how she stopped tolerating people who were disrespectful towards her, and this gave her a greater sense of self-respect. She lives her life authentically, and this helps those around her do the same. If we see someone we look up to treating themselves kindly and living the healthiest life they can, then we are inspired to do the same. This has also deepened her connection with her daughters, which warms my heart even more to know that her daughters have such a wonderful role model in their lives.
I want to end this blog with a comment Amanda made for everyone to remember. If you take nothing else away from this episode, remember that “it’s never too late to come home to yourself.”
Ways to Engage: Ask yourself, “What does love look like for me? What does a healthy relationship look like to me?” Don’t look at what other people have or what other people say you should have. Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly, intentionally, and without expectations. Once you have your answer, start the journey towards living this.
Resources:
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text START to 88788
The Center For Relationship Abuse Awareness (Education & Action)
✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program
Episode 43 - The VIP Upgrade: A Personalized Transformation for Women Ready to Prioritize Themselves with Melissa Crook
By Jessica Garrison
Ready for an upgrade? Host Melissa Crook is here to discuss The VIP Upgrade from the Embracing a FEEL-Fueled Life online course. This is a top tier investment that is perfect for women looking to gain information as well as create a personalized transformation.
We tend to treat other people like they’re VIP without considering ourselves at all, but your journey can’t begin until you make yourself a priority. This way, you can show up completely in all of your spaces rather than having limited resources within yourself. In this episode, Melissa goes into detail about her three pillars: identity over productivity, liberation through boundaries, and embodied wholeness.
Along with everything you receive in The Essentials part of the online course, The VIP Upgrade includes exclusive access to 60 minutes of 1:1 empowerment session time with Melissa that has a flexible structure that works best for you, allowing direct guidance that is tailored to your needs. This is your fast track to clarity, accountability, and lasting change. As you continue your journey, keep in mind these considerate words from Melissa: “You are worthy, you are valuable, and you get to choose.”
✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The VIP Upgrade one-on-one empowerment program
Episode 42 - Solo Female Travel, Self-Discovery & Living Outside Expectations with Tsvety Roo
By Jessica Garrison
Our next guest is someone with warmth, who is brave, courageous, conversational, and open-minded. We got a sneak peek at Tsvety Roo during the Together We FEEL panels on YouTube with “Honest Conversation around ‘Child-Free’ and ‘Child-Less’” and “Celebrating Ourselves Well.” Now we get to spotlight her in her own podcast episode and hear more details about her story.
The experiences she shares are so interesting because Tsvety is a solo traveler, which is something we don’t typically see from women. The world can be a scary place, but it’s also fascinating and full of culture, and we can’t allow fear to rule our lives. By giving herself permission, Tsvety has been able to live her dreams, but this decision didn’t come overnight. She shares that she needed to do introspective work and question herself. What am I stifling? Why am I not being fulfilled? What is making me feel stuck? It’s not always easy to ask yourself these personal questions and be honest with yourself, but you won’t be able to get answers unless you do. Tsvety said she had to dig deep to uncover what she was truly looking for.
Tsvety realized that she needed to live outside of her own expectations rather than living someone else’s life like she had been. You can’t let the outside voices sway you, especially when they don’t know the full story. No one knows your values or your passions more than yourself, so it’s important that you are making the decisions. She even discusses how she had her own misconceptions of travel until she experienced it for herself. This is when turning judgment into curiosity becomes crucial for our journey. If she hadn’t gotten curious, then Tsvety might have never taken the leap into the life she has now.
On her journey, she has grown to have more compassion for herself because, after all, we are our own worst critics. This has further helped her connect with others on a deeper level as well. She’s become more vulnerable, which gives her more strength and confidence. In the corporate setting, Tsvety was always told she was “too nice,” something I hear a lot of women called. A friend of mine was even turned down for a job, citing that she was “too nice,” which I’ve never heard a man called or denied work because of. The truth is that women can be strong AND kind–-the two don’t cancel each other out.
I loved hearing Tsvety talk not only about her experiences traveling, but all of the inner work she had to do to get to where she is now. It isn’t easy to transform your life the way she has, but it’s the best way to get where you want to go. If you’re ever in doubt or need inspiration, then this episode is perfect for you to find empowerment to live out of your own expectations and embrace your beautiful, complex layers.
Ways to Engage: Ask yourself the questions Tsvety asked herself: What am I stifling? Why am I not feeling fulfilled? What is making me feel stuck? Dig deep, be honest, and answer for yourself rather than answering how other people want you to.
✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program
Episode 41 - The FEEL Essentials: Living With Clarity, Alignment & Self-Trust with Melissa Crook
By Jessica Garrison
Similarly to last week’s calendar cleanse, host Melissa Crook offers a peek at The F.E.E.L Essentials from the Embracing a F.E.E.L-Fueled Life online course. This is where you will get some great ideas or tips on how you can create an impact without burnout and harness power without apology.
It’s crucial that we continue to check in with ourselves and understand what is right for us in the present moment. Ask yourself: what are 5 activities that nourish me? What are five ways I want to feel in the next 6 months? What are my values? This one is especially important because if we don’t value ourselves, then we won’t prioritize ourselves.
Use curiosity rather than judgment and remove the shame from your past layers or experiences. You did the best you could in that moment with the information you had, so it’s time to look forward while growing stronger inside and out. With The Essentials you will have full access to the course forever, 3 self-discovery questions, 8 talking points, and a digital workbook. There is also a physical copy of the workbook available if you’re more interested in using pen and paper. Let’s support each other as we take care of all areas of health, embrace our layers, prioritize self care, and continue to uphold healthy boundaries. This episode with Melissa, along with our online course, is definitely essential to your journey towards a healthier, unapologetic life.
✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 30 minute session or learn more about The Essentials one-on-one empowerment program
Episode 40 - Reclaiming Your Power: Boundaries, Healing, and Holistic Mental Health for Women with Dr. Anna Marie Frank
By Jessica Garrison
Episode trigger warnings: sexual assault, suicidal ideation
Melissa met our latest guest at The Power of Just One conference from SwellWomen, hosted by Lulu Agan. She knew there was a much larger conversation to have with Dr. Anna Marie Frank, who is a joyful, “sunshine and rainbows, bare feet on the grass, coffee in hand, trying to get to the beach any time she can, wants to be outside” type of gal.
Anna recalls her journey involving rediscovering and reprogramming, the first step for many of us to take in changing our lives. We live a certain way for so long that we have to be self aware about making shifts. This subject came up while discussing boundaries, where Anna says that it isn’t your job to make other people feel comfortable. It took her a while to realize that, and some people go their whole lives without realizing it. You are responsible for your own self and people have to be responsible for their own selves. We talk a lot about that with boundaries because it’s crucial we learn that we can’t control the way others will act, and you can’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, worrying about everyone else. Women are raised to think that we should be doing all of these things, but we’re only human after all. It’s ironic that women tend to be seen as “lesser than” but are still given all of the responsibility. Anna describes the power within these realizations, reminding us that it’s just a matter of time before we unlock it.
Getting people to feel the connection between their mental, physical, and spiritual health is one of Anna’s passions, and it falls right in line beside boundaries. The body follows what your mind does, which is why it’s so important to take care of all aspects of your health. We have more control over our bodies than we realize, a point Anna works to get across to her clients. She says the medicine is within us, and she loves to help people discover and step into their power holistically. You don’t have to wait until something drastic happens in your life and, despite what people may think, it’s never too late to start following your dreams and passions. Anna says you can start small with simple things to build up your confidence and understand that we are capable of so much more than we realize.
The layers we experience and uncover don’t need to have a label of “good” or “bad,” just like Melissa has said in the past about our emotions. They are what they are, and accepting them is truly a lot easier than shoving them down to fester. It doesn’t seem like it will be easier, but that’s because of the ideas and stereotypes we were raised with. Don’t deny your gifts or let people talk you out of who you really are. I loved the vulnerability that Anna brought to the conversation, not holding anything back as she shares her truth. It’s inspiring to hear from women who have learned from themselves and work towards helping other women live authentically.
Ways to Engage: What is your biggest passion in life? Does this answer come easily to you or do you need to think on it? What are some activities that nourish you or ways you want to feel in the next 6 months? Are your passions something that you truly harness or are they coming from someone else? Align your why and your passions within yourself.
Resources:
Call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)
Call 800-656-HOPE or text HOPE to 64673 (National Sexual Assault Hotline)
Episode 39 - Calendar Cleanse: How to Reclaim Your Time, Set Boundaries, and Stop Overcommitting with Melissa Crook
By Jessica Garrison
As the first month of 2026 winds down, host Melissa Crook takes time to discuss The Calendar Cleanse and share an opportunity to get extra support in these areas. In this one on one empowerment session, Melissa encourages listeners to honor themselves through their calendar, which can be a lot easier said than done.
Your calendar is a “reflection of your priorities, boundaries, and self-respect,” so it’s important that it represents you correctly. It takes practice saying “no” to what you don’t want and “yes” to what you do want, especially for people pleasers. As we’ve heard on the podcast before and as Melissa reiterates in this episode, be sure to give yourself at least 24 hours before making a decision. Even though we tend to apologize or overexplain, practice a response that is confident and sustains your boundaries without saying sorry.
Be sure your calendar represents and creates space for YOU. Honor yourself through your schedule and remember that you are worthy of the time you take for yourself. If you need extra support, our online course has its own Calendar Cleanse section for only $47 to have forever, so you can refer back to it any time. If you want to continue further, there are more modules to the course, or you can schedule to meet with Melissa one on one for more direct conversations. Let this be your first step towards investing in yourself and creating a calendar that caters to you rather than catering to others.
✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 15–30 minute session or learn more about The Calendar Cleanse one-on-one empowerment program.
Episode 38 - Breaking Gender Stereotypes: How One Sports Doll Sparked a Movement for Girls’ Empowerment
By Jessica Garrison
We have such a unique story to share this week with Jodi Bondi Norgaard. Jodi is an advocate, good listener, and a believer in equality, traits that become very clear as you listen to her share her journey.
Jodi says that she has always known she was right about gender equality, but she had an “aha!” moment in the toy store. Products are specifically marketed towards boys and girls. For example, toys for boys are trucks, Legos, and even fake guns. Toys for girls are baby dolls, tea sets, and play kitchens. They reinforce gender stereotypes, teaching children from a young age that there are certain things for certain genders, filing them into the categories society wants them to be in. In Jodi’s case, she saw dolls upon dolls that encouraged girls to wear makeup and skimpy clothes, but Jodi wanted to create a doll that would positively impact girls. With 75 lines of fashion dolls but not a single sports doll, Jodi decided to create one. She even measured her daughter’s friends so she could make a doll that had accurate proportions for a child, rather than the impossible ones we see today. This wasn’t just something Jodi slapped together, but rather a doll that she put her mind and heart into.
Her dolls were even sold at the U.S. Open. They bought 500 dolls from Jodie and sold every single one in less than a week. This just goes to show how much of a demand there is for this type of doll, solidifying for Jodi that this was the right choice for her. She had an idea fueled by passion and turned it into reality. And it wasn’t about making the girls pick the sports doll or pick the fashion doll, but rather about allowing them to have the choice of what they want, rather than stifling them by putting them into a box.
Jodi says she’s surrounded by smart, strong women who have no idea of their true power. They have low self-esteem, with strengths that women have as children becoming weaknesses as we become adults. It starts at a young age that girls begin to doubt themselves, thinking they’re not as good as boys or they aren’t as pretty as the other girls. However, Jodi is supporting women in living unapologetically by uplifting them with her words and her actions. Creating the sports doll was just the beginning of her journey, showing her a world of possibilities in the world of advocacy. She created her book, More Than a Doll, detailing “how creating a sports doll turned into a fight to end gender stereotypes” because her story is so much more than a doll.
Fighting the good fight can be exhausting, especially when you take hit after hit. But there’s one last thing I want to leave from Jodi to remember when you’re feeling this way, and that is “it’s okay to rest—it’s not okay to give up.” Rest and refuel, but never forget the reason why you started fighting in the first place.
Ways to Engage: When you’re out shopping, take notice of products that are specifically marketed towards men or women. What about them perpetuates stereotypes for the targeted gender? Keep mental notes of this so you are conscious of marketing strategies or stereotypes that businesses work to keep. The more aware of it we are, the better decisions we can make.
Episode 37 - The FEEL Leadership Immersion with Melissa Crook: Leading with Empowerment, Wholeness, and Unapologetic Confidence
By Jessica Garrison
If you’re a visionary, creative, or entrepreneur, then this empowerment session is for you. When women are put into a position of power or leadership, there are people who wait for, or even root for her to fail. With The FEEL Leadership Immersion, host Melissa Crook is here to share with women how they can lead with confidence and without burnout.
A huge hurdle we want to see women jump is constantly apologizing. We often feel like an inconvenience or like we should be “grateful” to be in the room in the first place, but we have to stop telling ourselves these stories. You’ve earned your place at the table and deserve to be there just as much as anyone else. If we say sorry a lot in our daily lives, I think it’s safe to say we can triple it in the workplace. In this episode, Melissa shares some alternatives to saying sorry, such as, “Excuse me, could I have a moment of your time?” rather than starting off the conversation with an apology. It takes some unlearning, but the more you practice the better you’ll get and soon enough, you won’t even have to think about it.
The responsibility of being a leader, especially as a woman, has immense pressure, but let this episode be a reminder to you that you have all of the power within yourself. Ask yourself: am I embracing my layers? Am I applying this to my work? Clarify what your why and values are, ensuring that you hold these close as you maneuver through uncharted territory. Continue to spread your wealth of knowledge as a confident, empowered leader.
✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 15–30 minute session or learn more about the FEEL Reset one-on-one empowerment program
Episode 36 - Healing After Pregnancy Loss: Grief, Stillbirth Awareness, and Journaling with Vallen Webb
By Jessica Garrison
Our next guest, Vallen Webb, is no stranger to The Embracing Layers Network. She has been featured on our YouTube panel show, Together We F.E.E.L, in the episode Processing Grief, as well as hosting Melissa on her podcast, Pregnancy Loss and Motherhood. Vallen describes herself as resilient, joyful, courageous, funny, and griefy.
Vallen is open about her heartbreaking experience losing her daughter during an emotionally taxing delivery. Although an unthinkable situation, it’s more common than people realize. Stillbirth is the leading cause of death for babies in the U.S., with one in four women who know they’re pregnant experiencing a miscarriage. After the death of her daughter, Vallen didn’t know where to turn, journaling to help make some sense of her thoughts. Not only was this beneficial in her own journey, but she wants to use it to help other women, too. She describes how she helped a family a few months after her own loss and discovered her love for teaching women about this. Her goal was to create her own training and become a pregnancy loss educator, exactly like she is doing now.
Sensitive topics like this are usually avoided in conversation because it’s painful and uncomfortable to talk about, which is even more reason to discuss it openly. We should encourage people to share their emotions with us without judgment or interruption. Grief is a funny thing, something that Vallen reiterates in this episode. Not everyone grieves the same way and the timing of our outbursts doesn’t always make sense. And sometimes when deaths are unexpected, you’re not sure where to turn. We expect to lose our grandparents and even parents at some point in our lives, basically anyone who is older than us. But there are some things in life we can never be prepared for. One of the only things that made Vallen feel better was to help other people, and that’s where journaling came in so she could share her story.
Journaling has been a highly recommended outlet by guests on the podcast since the beginning, furthering the importance of self care in our journey. I’ve had a journal since I was a freshman in high school, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop. Keeping thoughts locked inside your mind can make it so cluttered, so it’s good to let them out in an environment with no pressure. Whether they’re thoughts full of grief, sadness, anger, excitement, anxiety, or whatever you may be feeling, it’s always there for you. Vallen reminds us that with self care, it’s less about what you are doing and more about how you are doing it. Practices with intention and purpose are more likely to produce the results you’re looking for.
I really admire Vallen for not only sharing this difficult story, but sharing it with the intention to help others—it really showcases her bravery and strength. The work she does is important for women everywhere, and her impact in the community will carry on for decades.
Ways to Engage: Start practicing everyday, “normal” actions with intention. Things like brushing your hair, washing your face, or making your coffee in the morning. Make it special for yourself or really take time to appreciate the little things you do to take care of yourself each day, because the little things truly add up.
Episode 35 - The Boundary Blueprint: How to Reclaim Your Time, Energy, and Power Without Guilt with Melissa Crook
By Jessica Garrison
With the new year comes new challenges, but it also comes with new beginnings and a fresh mindset. Boundaries are guide posts to help you make informed decisions while still prioritizing yourself, making them essential in your embracing layers journey.
Host Melissa Crook discusses The Boundary Blueprint, dedicated to the second talking point in The F.E.E.L Podcast. In this episode, Melissa discusses the importance of boundaries for everyone, though they can be especially difficult to maintain if you’re codependent or a recovering people pleaser. They serve as a reminder to understand where your limits are and what needs have to be fulfilled. You have to do what is best for you, and boundaries help keep you on the path to achieving this.
Melissa also encourages listeners to stop justifying themselves. We tend to over explain when we tell someone “no,” but that is the confident part to setting boundaries. The more practice you get at it, the less you will feel the need to explain why you made the decision you did.
We hope this episode helps listeners understand boundaries, why they are necessary, and how they can begin to confidently set them in their own lives. If you struggle with this, listen back to some of our other episodes, paying extra attention to the boundaries talking point. Melissa is also available via our contact form to give extra support in any area you may need. Set boundaries in your life so you can live in and continue to protect your peace.
✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit our website to schedule a complimentary 15–30 minute session or learn more about the FEEL Reset one-on-one empowerment program
Episode 34 - Losing Sight, Finding Strength: Laura Bratton on Resilience, Boundaries, and Empowerment
By Jessica Garrison
Podmatch has brought so many incredible women our way, and Laura Bratton is no exception. She has been on dozens of podcasts before, and we are thrilled to host her this week and add The F.E.E.L Podcast onto her list. Laura describes herself as courageous.
Laura has a backstory like none other that we’ve heard before on the podcast: she lost her sight when she was about 16/17 years old. There was an immense level of grief that came with this, but she attributes her strength to her support system. Her family empowered her, not necessarily through their words, but through their actions. Laura tells us a story of being asked to do the dishes, using the excuse that she couldn’t because she was blind. Instead of her parents letting her shirk her chores, they enforced their rules as they had before she lost her sight. Not only was it difficult for her to continue to work towards the standards as before, but she also recognizes the difficulty her parents had in the situation. Not coddling or giving in helped Laura in the long run, though taking the struggle away all together would’ve been easiest. They believed in her when she didn’t believe in herself, and that is a powerful sentiment to have in life. If you surround yourself with people like that, even if they aren’t in your family, then you will live a rich, fulfilling life.
All of these experiences have amounted to Laura’s why and her values. She wants to be the empowering factor in a person’s life like her parents had been for her; she was able to have the confidence to accomplish so much in her life because of people like her parents. Boundaries also have a lot to do with accomplishing her why because people tend to put Laura in a box. It’s easy to judge someone from the outside—we all do it, but it’s what we do with those thoughts that matters most. We have to push those thoughts away, reminding ourselves that no one deserves to be pigeonholed. We have to put judgment aside and get curious. For Laura, it’s all about what she wants and what her passions are. If someone is overstepping a boundary, she will say so.
The final thing from Laura that I wanted to share is her wisdom when it comes to embracing the layered aspects of yourself. She says that you can grieve and move forward at the same time. She can grieve her vision for the rest of her life as well as moving forward, and that is okay. She needed to give herself that permission, and in turn, remind everyone to give themselves permission, too.
Laura has such incredible strength, optimism, and conviction. Her story is an inspiration for all to listen to, not only to the blind community. It is beneficial to listen to this when preparing for your embracing layers journey, or just need a bit of motivation to keep going. No matter what challenges arise, there is a way to conquer them.
Ways to Engage: Next time you make a snap judgment about someone, change it into curiosity. Ask them a question, talk about their day, or engage in a way that will challenge the way you see the world. Keep moving, keep growing.
Episode 33 - FEEL Reset: A Self-Care Reset for Burned Out Women Seeking Alignment & Empowerment
By Jessica Garrison
As we step into 2026, The FEEL Podcast is inviting women to slow down, realign, and reconnect with what truly matters.
In this kickoff Tuesday episode, host Melissa Crook introduces the FEEL Reset, a simple yet powerful self-reflection and alignment practice designed for women who feel burned out, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves. This episode also marks the launch of a new podcast rhythm: short, 10–15 minute Tuesday episodes offering practical encouragement you can apply right away, alongside the deeper guest conversations you love on Thursdays.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to reconnect with who you are beyond your roles and titles, clarify how you want to feel over the next six months, and create a sustainable self-care blueprint that supports alignment instead of exhaustion. Melissa shares how small, intentional shifts, like reviewing your calendar, honoring your body’s cues, and practicing aligned “yes” and “no” decisions can restore clarity, energy, and peace.
This episode is an invitation to stop performing and start honoring what you actually need, so you can show up fully resourced for your life.
✨ Bonus: A free downloadable FEEL Reset PDF is available in the show notes to guide your reflection.
✨ Ready for deeper support? Visit embracinglayers.com to schedule a complimentary 15–30 minute session or learn more about the FEEL Reset one-on-one empowerment program - https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact
Let 2026 be the year you reset, realign, and reconnect with yourself.
Episode 31 & 32 - Healthy Boundaries for Women: Saying No Without Guilt to Start the New Year Strong with Maureen Considine & Janie Jurkovich
By Jessica Garrison
We’re doing something a little different for this last week of 2025 with two guests in one blog! Our first guest of the week is Maureen Considine, who describes herself as courageous, adventurous, fun, driven, kind, and of service. Our second guest this week is Janie Jurkovich, whom Melissa knows from the Fresno County Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She describes herself as honest, practical, funny, determined, and a woman who perseveres.
I want to touch on the topic of boundaries in this blog because both women have such incredible things to say about this subject, and there’s nothing like the new year to bring new challenges you’ll need to face with healthy boundaries. Maureen says, it’s not really about what you say no to but really what you say yes to. We’ve heard similar phrasing in the past, but it’s crucial to remember when making decisions. If you’re constantly saying yes to things, you won’t have time for what nourishes your soul. Similarly to self care, Maureen reminds us to stay committed to our boundaries, which is arguably the hardest part of them. People are bound to come along and try to push you past your limits, but you have to remember that you said no for a reason.
For Janie, she didn’t know boundaries were a thing for the longest time, which is a common answer for a lot of our guests. She’s since learned that it’s okay to say no without an explanation because “No” is a complete sentence. Boundaries also set the standard for how people will treat you. If they see you as someone who stands their ground and doesn’t let people walk all over them, they probably won’t even try to. But if they see you’re not one to hold up your boundaries—or as Maureen says, commit to them—then they won’t bother to listen to them in the first place. Janie says it’s important to keep practicing at setting and sticking to your boundaries, and eventually you will get better at it. I also wanted to share the reminder that Janie told us: it isn’t your job to please everybody. You are only responsible for yourself and if someone is unhappy, that is their own journey to handle it.
Maureen’s episode will be out Tuesday, December 30th and Janie’s episode will be out Thursday, January 1st to perfectly wrap up 2025 and begin 2026. I hope everyone takes the advice, not only from these two incredible women, but from all of the guests we’ve had over this year. Remember that you set the precedent for how people will treat you, and you are worthy of the utmost respect. Also remember to respect your boundaries and practice committing to them—you can only get better. Happy holidays from everyone at The Embracing Layers Network. We’ll see you next year!
Ways to Engage: Think of some questions to ask yourself when saying yes to something. Do you really want to? Does it feed your soul? If you can’t answer yes to these questions, then challenge yourself by saying no to the request. You might feel guilt at first or experience some backlash, but it’s important to honor yourself and what you want.
Episode 30 - Healing From Spiritual Abuse: Divorce, Faith Deconstruction, and Choosing Self-Care with Daphne McGee
By Jessica Garrison
Episode trigger warning: abuse
Our next guest comes recommended to us from Neva Talladen, the editor of our book Embracing Layers Unapologetically. Daphne McGee has also been on our panel shows including, “Honest Conversation Around “Child-Free” and “Child-Less.” She describes herself as caring, warm, hospitable, and brave.
Daphne grew up in a Baptist Church in Texas, raised to sacrifice to God and allow Him to take care of you. Although a rule follower, Daphne was also very curious, which wasn’t always accepted in the church setting. This trait opened up a new world to her whenever she was, questioning if there was something more. She says her biggest act of self care was getting divorced from her husband when she was being emotionally and spiritually abused. This gave her body a release, physically showcasing that she was doing the best thing for herself.
She’s since shared her story online, allowing her to connect with people on a greater scale. This morphed into a new book she has coming out called God Loves Divorce. It is the ultimate act to live out of your own expectations by doing something people may not approve of, and divorce isn’t always understood in the church. Just like with her curious side, Daphne had to stay true to herself and make the right decisions. Her divorce was the ultimate act of honoring herself, leaving the church in pursuit of a community that would support her in the ways that she needed. Even though self care is a new concept for Daphne, she’s been practicing it without even knowing what words to put to it.
This work has allowed her to help other women just by sharing her story. She’s always been vocal online about her faith, so it was natural for her to tell it through this lens. Once she took that step forward to do something for herself, it resonated with so many other people. It’s a shame to hear that so many women have a similar experience, but it also means that we can help these women start living out of their expectations and find that authenticity in their own lives. Daphne says that self care is community care, and I couldn’t agree more.
Daphne has her own podcast with a friend, Love Is A Trip, filled with even more fun stories and heartfelt content. I’m thankful to Neva, not only for everything she has done for us, but for thinking of us when she encounters these incredible women. We love to share their stories of healing and triumph, proving that every woman deserves and is capable of creating the life they want.
Ways to Engage: Is there a trait you had when you were younger that you “grew out of.” Think of why this happened. Were people dismissive? Were you told not to act or think a certain way? Explore your childhood interests or personality and think about why you’ve changed. Live your own truth and out of your own expectations.
Resources:
Call 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788
Episode 29 - Second Act Success: How Shannon Russell Reinvented Her Career and Reclaimed Her Purpose
By Jessica Garrison
We’ve been paired with yet another incredible Podmatch guest, Shannon Russell. She showcases her positivity, ambitiousness, and adventurous side on her podcast, Second Act Success, and now she is here to share those traits with The F.E.E.L Podcast.
Shannon had a shift in her life after leaving her career of 16 years in TV to start a new business. Her passion is helping people, and she didn’t want anyone to be alone in their journey as she had been. It’s become the norm to hate your job, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Shannon wants to help people find what they can shift in their own lives to achieve their goals. The why and values piece means everything to Shannon. She says, “focus on the why and everything will fall into place.”
This also makes living out of your own expectations easier because you’re so focused on your why and your values that nothing else matters enough to deter you. Although there was initial shock from people in Shannon’s life, it wasn’t anything she wasn’t expecting. There’s no hesitation on her end when it comes to telling people what she does and what she wants. When you first hear this, it sounds a little jarring because who does that? Who just does what they want? It seems impossible, but it really isn’t. You can do whatever you want and live the life you want rather than what someone else expects of you—you just have to have the right attitude or headspace going into it.
Not everything may be right the first time you try it, and that’s okay, too. Shannon shares that she kept trying different things that didn’t feel quite right, but she wasn’t discouraged. She knew she would find the best fit for herself, so she kept working at it. Even something like stress can change for you when you get out of a job you hate into the job you love. We’ve discussed before that there are healthy stressors and unhealthy stressors, but Shannon found something that gives her a different kind of stress—a better kind of stress. It’s strange to think of “healthy stress,” but you’ll know it when you feel it.
Shannon is able to see her impact in the lives of others as well as in her own life. She may still be working on building her business further, but she is confident that she is in the right place. Things like this don’t happen overnight, but if you continue to work little by little, the results will appear eventually. The puzzle doesn’t come already built in the box. You have to find the pieces and fit them together yourself. Some are easy, some are difficult, and sometimes it takes a while, but the puzzle comes together eventually.
Listen to Shannon’s episode to hear more about the changes she’s made and how this has positively impacted her life. Allow her story to inspire you and remind you going into the new year that anything is possible. It’s your life, and it isn’t too late to start living it.
Ways to Engage: Use time you would be using to scroll on your phone to do something with more intention. If you’re watching a movie, don’t scroll on your phone and be present in the moment. If you’re out to dinner, leave your phone at home or in the car to really appreciate the time you have with yourself as well as with your loved ones.
Episode 28 - Breaking Free from Good Girl Expectations: Barbara Howlin’s Journey to Self-Trust and Inner Safety
By Jessica Garrison
Our episode this week with Barbara Howlin is full of gems and reminders for our listeners to take with them as they embark on their own journey. Barbara describes herself as a creative, loving, passionate, and expansive human.
We’ve discussed “good girl syndrome” in a past episode with Kat Newport, and Barbara bringing it up again goes to show how prominent it is in our society. Barbara says she is shedding the good girl syndrome and focusing on being herself, rather than automatically trying to conform to the good girl everyone wants to see. It can be difficult not to resort back to old tactics, such as looking for validation from other people. I know I struggle with seeking validation from people sometimes, even though I don’t need it. Barbara deals with this by asking herself questions to make sure she is living out of her own expectations rather than someone else’s. Am I trying to prove myself? Am I living from the inside out or the outside in? Am I coming from a place of love or a place looking for love? Barbara says she was walking through life with her head down rather than up, and she doesn’t want to rush through anymore. It’s important we take time and slow down to appreciate our lives when the moment is here.
Her morning routine consists of journaling, reiki, and movement in nature, a practice that doesn’t take long at all—about 30 minutes in total. Barbara describes this balance as a juggling act between what you need and what will make you feel nourished, and she has a clear understanding of what is most important to her. The glass in her life that she refuses to drop is herself and her family. Everything else will bounce back, and I think that’s a great way at looking at what you prioritize in comparison to everything else. It really puts things into perspective.
Burnout recovery was needed for Barbara, something she realized just before the pandemic. After that, she knew she couldn’t go back to the way things were before. She began reclaiming her intuition and recovered a sense of safety. Our nervous systems are not built to be on edge all day every day, and we have to train ourselves to know that we aren’t in danger. Recreating a sense of safety often begins with looking back at your past or your childhood. In other words, it starts with embracing your layers.
Barbara’s story is one to come back to whenever you’re doubting yourself. She shows us not only how necessary it is that we take care of ourselves, but also that we continue to live our lives, having fun while we do it. There’s no need to be ashamed of your layers or what you have experienced. All we can do now is move forward and hold our heads high as we go.
Ways to Engage: Identify some things in your life that are “glass.” What can you not drop at any cost in fear of it breaking? What can you live with dropping and having it bounce back? Remember these priorities during your journey.
Episode 27 - From Toxicity to Transformation: How Corine Lafont Found Self-Worth and Emotional Freedom
By Jessica Garrison
I just know everyone is going to adore our next guest, Corine Lafont. Corine takes a break from her own podcast, Between the Lines, to join Melissa in a lively conversation of embracing her layers. She describes herself as young, cute, and sexy.
As we get older, our body changes and although that seems self-explanatory, we don’t acknowledge or treat ourselves like it. Corine relays the importance of recentering and recalibrating herself, checking in on her progress. After leaving a toxic 27 year relationship, Corine could see the changes in herself, and I’m sure people noticed on the outside as well. She mentioned that things as small as skin improvement can come as a result of finally putting yourself first. Once you’re rid of the person who has been dragging you down, the toxicity and stress is able to leave the body, too. However, once you start to find that light again, people are drawn to it, but you have to be careful they aren’t draining it.
Corine also reminds us how important it is to find that balancing act of letting people in but not letting them take advantage of you. It’s difficult at first, especially for people pleasers, to say no and to understand when it’s time to stop giving. Corine says she has no expectations because she doesn’t need to prove herself—not to herself or to anyone else. She doesn’t give her energy to people who aren’t worth her time or are constantly draining her without giving anything back. It’s not about a relationship being transactional, but more so about finding a balance in the relationship. At the end of the day, the trust you have for yourself is what matters most. Whatever feels healthiest for you, whether it’s nutritionally, physically, or mentally, don’t doubt yourself. You’ll know when you’re on the right path.
When discussing how living out F.E.E.L has impacted some of her relationships, Corine sends a strong reminder to not compromise—stick to your boundaries. When you give an inch, it makes people think they can take a mile, but it isn’t apparent at the beginning. Sometimes you’ll be pushed bit by bit to see how far they can go, and each time is just a bit further and further until you’re right back where you started. Misery loves company, so even subconsciously, people can be bringing you down without even trying. You have to look out for yourself the best you can and protect yourself like you would a best friend.
Corine doesn’t have the feeling of missing out like she used to because she knows in her heart she is doing what is best for herself, standing beside her inner child as they go through life, healing themselves and others. Let Corine be that little voice inside your head telling you to keep going, reminding yourself that you’re on the right track.
Ways to Engage: Next time you’re faced with a decision, big or small, ask yourself some questions. Is this what I want? Who am I? Recognize your true self with your true emotions towards the decision and base it off of those answers rather than out of guilt or people pleasing tendencies.
Episode 26 - Healing from Within: Holistic Self-Care, Body Awareness, and Women’s Wellness with Alexandra Birch
By Jessica Garrison
Episode trigger warning: eating disorder
Our first guest of the week is Alexandra Birch, who is holistic in mind, body, and spirit. Science is also part of what she does and who she is, keeping an open mind to explore all sides of healing.
Self care first crossed Alexandra’s doorstep when it was just a “buzzword,” slapping the label on something materialistic you could buy without really considering if it was actually part of self care. She has since learned that the connection between taking care of yourself internally matches your health externally. She was a competitive athlete, obsessed with taking her performance to the next level. Without sports, she became lost and turned her attention to nutrition. I also was an athlete, playing softball all year round for 6 years. Once I stopped, my physique changed, and I quickly realized I couldn’t eat the way I used to. Although nutrition is always important, sometimes it takes something like weight gain or constant exhaustion to get you to focus inward like it had for me and for Alexandra.
The body is constantly giving us signals and, although Alexandra is still learning, she’s more intune with herself and what she needs. She says she prioritizes stillness and quiet, coming back to her body and really listening to what it’s telling her. She also emphasizes the need to listen to yourself on a day to day basis to understand what you need, and I appreciate her bringing that up in this conversation. Sometimes what works one day may not have the same effect the next, and that can become frustrating. We’ve heard a few guests in the past talk about having a “self care menu,” where they have different activities listed that they can choose from depending on their mood. Even the things on your list might not work or need to be updated, but it’s a place to start.
I also love how Alexandra brings up the selflessness of self care, even though women have been taught to think it’s selfish. Filling up your own cup allows you to pour into others, part of the reason Alexandra quit her corporate job and chose to specialize in her fertility. This work is healing to her and is a subject she is passionate about, which is so obvious when listening to her speak. Doing work that nourishes her soul not only fills her cup, but she is able to support other women in living unapologetically by pouring into them with this work.
These subjects specifically involving women need to be talked about more and shared without shame. It’s scary to take that leap of faith, but it only leads to all of the answers you’ve been looking for, along with ways to accomplish your goals. I think Alexandra has so much knowledge and really articulates her story well while weaving that in. Her own courage and strength will inspire others for generations.
Ways to Engage: Try creating your own self care menu, choosing from the menu when you’re unsure of which self care practice to utilize. Starting with 5 activities that nourish you or 5 ways you want to feel in the 6 months is a great starting point towards a self care routine.
Resources: Eating Recovery Center, NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association)
Episode 25 - Healing Through Writing: Emotional Wellness, Trauma Recovery & Women’s Empowerment with Teresa Rosario-Hernandez
By Jessica Garrison
We are joined by another great guest from Podmatch, Teresa Rosario-Hernandez. Teresa is determined, independent, hopeful, hardworking, professional, and she is a forever dreamer.
Since this episode releases during the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to make sure we are taking care of ourselves when the stress is building. Teresa shares how she didn’t recognize herself when she wasn’t taking care of her emotional and mental health. It manifested into physical health problems, as she was reacting to trauma rather than processing it. It’s become easier since Teresa has given herself permission to feel, saying that emotional health is more about moving through the storm rather than pretending it’s sunny out all the time.
Teresa now has tools she uses to process these emotions and to move through the storm. She needs a way to release her thoughts so she doesn’t get caught up in that cycle of negative thoughts or memories. Through affirmations, voice notes, and poetry, Teresa has been able to put her emotions into words to be able to process them. Her main vice is writing, which is a powerful tool that is under utilized. I’m a bit biased, but there’s a great release when you write out what you’re thinking. I tell people that even if they aren’t “good at it,” writing poetry can really help you make some sense of everything going on in your mind. It doesn’t have to be perfect because you aren’t publishing it—no one has to see it but you. It’s relieving to get those thoughts out of your body, so forget about being the best writer or the best speller. Do it for yourself, and only share if that feels authentic for you. It’s also nice to keep them in a journal so you can look back over them when the feelings aren’t as fresh and raw.
By taking care of her emotional as well as her physical health, it’s opened doors for Teresa to support women in living unapologetically. She emphasizes the need for more grace and less judgment in these spaces. We don’t always see what other people see, and everyone has their own experience or wisdom to share. There’s more of an impact when we can learn and we can teach without the worry of unnecessary judgment. I also loved that during this talking point Teresa says, “Never shame a woman for changing her mind or for starting over.” No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, there is always an opportunity to start fresh. It’s not easy, so it should be something that is celebrated and acknowledged. Women especially get put into a box that seems impossible to break out of at first, but once you do, the real magic happens.
Teresa has her own self-improvement podcast, Prosecco Queens Podcast, where she continues to share her story (with a little help from the Prosecco, of course). Women work so hard to make sure others feel supported, so why not you? Start prioritizing yourself today and feel the shift into a healthier life.
Ways to Engage: Write a poem about a recent event or emotion you experienced. It doesn’t have to rhyme or be in a certain format. Just put the pen in your hand, open your mind, and write.
Episode 24 - Sisterhood Through Survival: How Deana Lynn & Lizzie Jane Turned Pain Into Purpose
By Jessica Garrison
Episode trigger warning: abuse
We have a double feature today with two amazing guests we have met recently. Deana Lynn and Lizzie Jane have a podcast together called Surviving Toxic Relationships, where they discuss what brought them together and have guests to share their own experiences. Deana describes herself as energetic, extroverted, empathetic, and motivated, while Lizzie describes herself as resilient, compassionate, empowering, and wise.
The history between Deana and Lizzie is further explained by them in the episode, but in short, the two of them were married to the same man who did not treat them the way they deserved. He had narcissistic behaviors and abusive tendencies, but they were able to overcome this trauma and create something beautiful together. They want to support other women in living unapologetically just as they have for each other. I had chills when Lizzie recalled looking over at Deana and saying, “we’re going to tell our story to the world.” She knew that other women needed to know the signs and what to watch out for when meeting a man like their ex-husband—there was even a 3rd woman involved in the situation, proving their point further that these resources are necessary.
Deana shares how she felt guilty for not warning Lizzie of her ex-husband’s behavior ahead of time, but her son eventually encouraged her to reach out to Lizzie, knowing how kind and understanding of a woman she is. Deana says it was a very validating experience for her, able to talk to someone who can truly understand what she had been through. It also validated Lizzie’s gut feeling, which is so important to remember. Always trust your gut or your intuition. It’s been happening a lot in my life personally where me or a friend have had a gut feeling we listened to and it paid off. I’m always urging people to listen to that voice inside because she does know best.
It’s incredible to hear these stories from women who have turned such a negative experience into something so magical. They’re lucky to have had each other through this experience, but they know not everyone is as lucky. Their podcast is to not only tell their story but to allow others to learn and to tell theirs.
Deana reminds us to let that ex go and focus on yourself. Uncover your layers and get to know the real you, not the one that was buried underneath the narcissist for so many years. Lizzie says, “The layers don’t make me complicated, they make me whole,” and I don’t think there’s a better quote from the episode. No matter what happens, you have yourself. The rest will follow.
Ways to Engage: Name some things you like about yourself. Not how others make you feel or what others like about you. Focus on who you are, what you value in yourself, and remember to be your own biggest supporter.
Resources:
The Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness (Education & Action)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788